PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 13 (Rivalry Week)

Savor the leftovers and kick back on the couch. Rivalry Week is here! This is the best week of the college football season, as hate fills the air. Your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers are either with you or against you. There's nothing like these heated games. Throw out the records, throw out the statistics. With 365 days of bragging on the line, expect the unexpected. After this, we'll be on to championship weekend. But there are lots of scores to settle. Onward with the picks!

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 10-1
Game of the Week Pick: 4-4

Overall: 107-44 (.709 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the CFB Playoff Top 25

Friday

NC State at North Carolina - Carolina-State Game (UNC leads 66-33-6)
(Line: North Carolina -10.5)
Not the best game of the weekend, but a solid rivalry here. NC State needs a win to become bowl eligible. Carolina needs a win to have a chance at the Coastal Division title (the Heels still have to wait on the Virginia Tech game on Saturday). The Wolfpack have come oh so close several times this season. The difference in this one will be UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Heels 27-21

Arkansas at Missouri - Battle Line Rivalry (Mizzou leads 4-3)
(Line: Arkansas -8)
This has never been much of a rivalry, but the SEC is trying to make it one. The Razorbacks knocked off Mississippi State on the road last weekend, a first in the Beilema era. Mizzou pretty much stinks. Hogs 34-17

No. 16 Nebraska at Iowa - Heroes Game (Nebraska leads 29-14-3)
(Line: Iowa -1.5)
An intriguing game for Nebraska as the Huskers need a win and a Wisconsin loss to clinch the Big Ten West. Iowa has already taken down Michigan a few weeks ago. The Huskers are ranked, but the Hawkeyes are favored. Huskers 23-20

TCU at Texas - (Texas leads 62-23-1)
(Line: Texas -3)
Is Charlie Strong out or is he staying? Will his players play for him or are they tired of the season-long drama? TCU is coming off its worse loss in a long, long time, so the Horned Frogs might be desperate. So might the Longhorns trying to either save Strong's job, or send him off on a positive note. Both teams clinch bowl eligibility with a win, though TCU has one more opportunity next weekend. Horns 45-34

No. 5 Washington at No. 23 Washington State - Apple Cup (UW leads 70-32-6)
(Line: Washington -6)
The most interesting Apple Cup probably ever. Wazzu hosting UW with the Pac-12 North on the line. The Huskies are arguably the more talented team, but the Cougs are led by the unheralded Luke Falk. Washington needs the win to remain in Playoff contention. WSU would love nothing more than to spoil that opportunity. What a game this should be on the Palouse! Huskies 38-37

Baylor vs. Texas Tech - at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - BUTT Bowl (Baylor leads 37-36-1) 
(Line: Baylor -5.5)
OK, so it's called the BUTT Bowl unofficially - Baylor's initials BU added to Texas Tech's TT. But that's just too funny not to use here! Anyway, the Bears have lost four straight since starting 6-0 this season. Their last three losses have come by 21 points or more each. Texas Tech was just blown out by Iowa State 66-10. What in the world is going on in Lubbock? Bears 44-42

Arizona State at Arizona - Territorial Cup ('Zona leads 48-40-1)
(Line: Arizona State -3)
The Wildcats and Sun Devils duel in the desert for a rivalry lacking intensity this season. Arizona State can only become bowl eligible with a win. Arizona is just 2-9. No gold coming out of the Copper State this time. ASU 31-26

Saturday

GAME OF THE WEEK

JT Barrett and the Buckeyes look to upend
Michigan's shot at the CFB Playoff.
(Photo courtesy The Lima News)

No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State - The Game (Michigan leads 58-47-6)
(Line: Ohio State -6.5)
This one is known as The Game and this year, it is the game of the weekend. No. 3 Michigan pays a visit to arch-rival No. 2 Ohio State. With the winner eyeing a Playoff berth, this one means more than most years. In 2006, a similar event occurred in Columbus and the Buckeyes emerged with a thrilling win. Michigan will likely be without starting QB Wilton Speight. A win sends the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State can only win and hope Penn State loses later in the day. Still, the Buckeyes would be in the conversation for a Top 4 spot. All signs point to a Buckeye win, creating chaos for the Playoff Committee. Bucks 30-17

Georgia Tech at Georgia - Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (UGA leads 65-40-5) 
(Line: Georiga -4)
Mark Richt ain't on the sidelines in red and black anymore. He coached UGA to a 13-2 record against the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs, now under Kirby Smart, defeated Auburn and North Carolina, but have a loss to Vanderbilt and narrow wins over Nicholls, Missouri and UL-Lafayette. Tech bounced back from a three-win season to reach seven so far, including an upset in Blacksburg over Virginia Tech. Outside of that, however, the Jackets have basically beaten everybody they should've and lost to everyone better. Dawgs 20-17

Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville - Governor's Cup (Series tied 14-14)
(Line: Louisville -26)
A year ago, Louisville fell behind Kentucky 24-7 before storming back with 31 straight points to win 38-24. Lamar Jackson is the Heisman front-runner and the Cards had an extra couple days to digest their loss at Houston. I doubt this one is close, but we all know anything can happen in these rivalry games. Cards 56-28

Virginia at Virginia Tech - Commonwealth Cup (VT leads 55-37-5)
(Line: Virginia Tech -18.5)
All the Hokies have to do is beat Virginia and they'll travel to Orlando next week for the ACC Championship. Seems pretty easy, as VT has dominated this series, winning 12 in a row. Three of the last four, however, have been by four points or less. Lane Stadium will get to celebrate a Coastal championship along with winning the Commonwealth Cup. Hokies 34-13

Michigan State at No. 7 Penn State - Land Grant Trophy (MSU leads 15-14-1)
(Line: Penn State -12)
If Ohio State beats Michigan and that game ends just prior to kickoff in Happy Valley, the whole stadium will let James Franklin and the Nittany Lions know. All Penn State has to do is take down three-win Sparty. MSU gave Michigan and Ohio State fits, although both of those games were in East Lansing. Penn State is seeking its first-ever trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. Nittany Lions 24-14

No. 13 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama - Iron Bowl (Bama leads 44-35-1)
(Line: Alabama -17)
Two weeks ago, this looked like a clash of SEC West titans once again. Then, Auburn looked inept at Georgia. Alabama doesn't have to win this game, but you and I both know Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide faithful feel otherwise. Both defenses are tough, but the edge has to go to Bama and its ability to wear teams down over four quarters. Tide 34-21

Mississippi State at Ole Miss - Egg Bowl (Ole Miss leads 63-43-6)
(Line: Ole Miss -8)
The Egg Bowl has lost some luster due to both teams fading fast in the last year. An Egg Bowl win gives Ole Miss another bowl trip, while Mississippi State would love to have the Rebels staying home for the holidays too. Freshman Shea Patterson will be baptized by fire in this heated rivalry. He could be the key to an Ole Miss win. Rebs 28-24

Minnesota at No. 6 Wisconsin - Paul Bunyan's Axe (Minnesota leads 59-58-8)
(Line: Wisconsin -14.5)
It's simple for Wisconsin: Win and clinch the Big Ten West. Minnesota has been solid all year, but the Badgers are just too good a team and are playing at home. Camp Randall will be rocking and Wisconsin will get the Axe. Badgers 41-24

Notre Dame at No. 12 USC - Jeweled Shillelagh (ND leads 46-36-5)
(Line: USC -17.5)
These two teams went in opposite directions following Week 1 losses. Remember when USC lost 52-6 to Alabama and began the year 1-3? The Trojans now find themselves in contention for the Pac-12 South, or at the very least a potential berth in a New Year's Six Bowl. That's all thanks to the emergence of quarterback Sam Darnold. As for the Irish, who lost 50-47 in double-OT at Texas, the season ends with this one. ND is 4-7, will miss out on a bowl, has rumors swirling about its head coach, and to top it off was just forced by the NCAA to vacate wins from the 2012 and 2013 seasons. What a nightmare of a fall in South Bend. Trojans 42-20

Oregon at Oregon State - Civil War (Oregon leads 63-46-10)
(Line: Oregon -3)
Aside from the Ducks pulling off a shocker in Utah last weekend, the Civil War has turned into a Civil Pillowfight. Oregon and Oregon State have combined for a 7-15 record. Bragging rights for the next 365 days are all that is on the line. Ducks 31-23

South Carolina at No. 4 Clemson - Palmetto Bowl (Clemson leads 67-42-4)
(Line: Clemson -24)
A fine season for the Gamecocks in Year 1 of the Will Muschamp era. Despite true freshman Jake Bentley leading the charge the last five games (S.Car is 4-1 in that stretch and became bowl eligible), South Carolina might be in over its head in Death Valley. Bentley's only road start was a miserable one at Florida in which the Cocks scored seven points and gained just 256 yards. Clemson is looking for a third straight win in the series and to keep its Playoff hopes on track. This line is strange, considering the Tigers' last two wins in the series have been by a combined 23 points. Deshaun Watson needs to be mistake free. If he is, look out. Tigers 38-24

No. 22 Utah at No. 9 Colorado - Rumble in the Rockies (Colorado leads 31-28-3)
(Line: Colorado -10)
Utah was about an inch away from making this a de facto Pac-12 South championship game. The Utes loss to Oregon was heartbreaking. Now, they travel to resurgent Colorado. The Buffaloes are having  a tremendous turnaround season and could win 10 games for the first time since 2001. Quarterback Sefo Liufau is fun to watch. Colorado looks to earn its first trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. Buffs 37-20

No. 15 Florida at No. 14 Florida State - Sunshine Showdown (Florida leads 34-24-2)
(Line: Florida State -7.5)
When the Noles and Gators get together, expect fireworks. A scrum typically breaks out during pregame and the trash talking goes on all night. Florida is coming off an emotional win at LSU to secure the SEC East crown again. FSU has won three straight, posting 45 points in back-to-back games. The Noles seniors can accomplish something no other senior class has: finish their careers 8-0 against Miami and Florida. Florida State handled the Gators in The Swamp last year, 27-2. It won't be that bad, but the Noles should take care of business. Noles 31-13

-BtW

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 9

BENched had a great week of picks, going 15-2 with the lone losses being a Penn State upset of Ohio State and an Auburn thrashing of Arkansas. The fun is only beginning, though, because we enter the time of year when one upset sets off a snowball effect. Every top rated team playing in Week 9 is on the road. Certainly someone is going to fall. But who?

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 15-2
Game of the Week Pick: 2-2

Overall: 72-30 (.706 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Thursday

No. 25 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh (Line: Virginia Tech -3.5)
The Hokies are in control of the ACC Coastal, but just when things seem clear, Coastal Chaos happens. Pitt had a week off to prepare for Virginia Tech. The way this VT team is playing, it probably wasn't enough. Hokies 31-24

Saturday

No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State (Line: Michigan -24.5)
Wow, what a difference a year makes in the Mitten State. In 2015, Sparty turned in the play of the year with a touchdown on messed up/blocked punt to beat Big Blue in the Big House. MSU went to the College Football Playoff later that season. Now? The Spartans are 2-5 and Michigan is No. 2 in the land. Fightin' Harbaughs 41-13

No. 10 West Virginia at Oklahoma State (Line: West Virginia -3.5)
Dana Holgorsen has us on edge every week. "Well that's good, but can they win on the road in Lubbock?" "Nice win, but can they get past TCU?" This time, it's to the house that Boone built. And yes, another win. 'Neers 36-27

No. 14 Florida vs. Georgia - "No Longer the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Because That's Not PC" at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Line: Florida -7.5)
For the first time since the late 1980s, neither Steve Spurrier nor Mark Richt are coaching in this game. Wow. The Gators have won two in a row after losing three straight. Uga will be one tired dawg after this one. Gators 27-10

Miami at Notre Dame (Line: Miami -2)
Remember when this was the "Catholics vs. Convicts?" Now it's just the mediocre vs. the mediocre-er. Sheesh, what a waste of a good game that no one will watch. Canes 24-21

Texas Tech at TCU (Line: TCU -9)
All you need to know about this one is Texas Tech had 854 yards of offense, 59 points, an all-around record-setting performance by its QB ... and LOST. TCU is not likely to give up that many yards or points, so expect another L for Kliff's boys. Frogs 38-34

No. 8 Baylor at Texas (Line: Baylor -3.5)
Here's the first chance BENched sees an unbeaten falling. Baylor has literally played nobody. The Bears have been underwhelming under interim coach Jim Grobe. Meanwhile, Texas has been underwhelming for over half a decade. Bears 40-30

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Washington at No. 17 Utah (Line: Washington -10)

Utah's Joe Williams has been unstoppable since
coming out of retirement.
(Photo courtesy AP)

The Pac-12 finally produces something that is worth watching AND puts it on TV when no one east of the Mississippi is sleeping! Jake Browning is in the Heisman hunt and has the Huskies eyeing a Pac-12 title and Playoff berth. Utah may have other plans. The Utes are physical, moreso than U-Dub has seen this season. Washington's six FBS opponents to date are a combined 16-28. Utah is 7-1, playing at home with College GameDay line from Salt Lake City. Utah also has a formerly retired running back - Joe Williams - who has rushed for 179 and 332 yards with five total TDs in the two games back since he unretired. This has all the ingredients for a disaster national showing for the Huskies. Utes 34-31

No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin -8)
Here is the Huskers make or break two-game stretch. The people of the corn must go to Madison and Columbus on back-to-back weekends. Escape and say hello to the CFB Playoff Top 4. Fall in both (bigtime) are say goodbye to the Top 20. Wisconsin is battled tested and has a pair of seven-point losses to Michigan (on the road) and Ohio State (in overtime). Nebraska has been tested by 2-5 Oregon and 3-4 Indiana. Yeah... Badgers 34-17

No. 13 Boise State at Wyoming (Line: Boise State -13.5)
Much has been made about Boise's late-season road trips to altitude troubling places like Laramie (and later Colorado Springs). But Vegas doesn't see the Broncos having much trouble with the CowPokes and neither does BENched. Broncos 28-14

No. 15 Auburn at Ole Miss (Line: Auburn -4.5)
These two teams have traded spots from preseason picks. Auburn enters on a four-game winning streak and appears to be full-steam ahead. Ole Miss has only beaten SEC East foe Georgia for its lone Power 5 win. Even in Oxford, you have to like the Tigers. Once again, Chad Kelly will prove to not be the best QB in the game. War Eagles 42-24

No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State (Line: Clemson -4.5)
This was billed as the ACC's game of the year and in some places, the national game of the year. Clemson did its part and showed up unbeaten at 7-0. FSU fought and clawed its way to a 5-2 record, which includes a dismantling at the hands of Louisville and a heartbreaker at home against UNC. The Noles have righted the ship somewhat against arch-rival Miami and upstart Wake Forest. But Saturday night, it comes full circle for Deshaun Watson. You see, Watson surged into the national spotlight when he entered the game part-way through at FSU in 2014. As a true freshman, he nearly led Clemson to a win at No. 1 FSU. This time, he gets it done and gets Dabo Swinney's first win at Doak Campbell Stadium as a head coach. Tigers 35-24

-BtW

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 4

First Thursday picks of the year, courtesy of a Clemson road game at rival Georgia Tech. BENched had an abysmal week last week. Time to get back to the winning ways.

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 7-6

Overall: 26-12 (.684 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Thursday

No. 5 Clemson at Georgia Tech (Line: Clemson -9.5)
Jackets and Paul Johnson's option offense are one of just two ACC teams to have a winning record against Dabo Swinney. Clemson is looking to get on a roll, but it won't be easy in ATL. The Tigers have won 40 straight against unranked opponents, but haven't won at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2003. Tigers 34-24

Friday

USC at No. 24 Utah (Line: Utah -3)
USC has problems. One of them is trying to win in Rice-Eccles Stadium against an underrated Utah team. Don't we say that about the Utes every year? Utes 37-17

Saturday

No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -5.5)
Sparty proved its worth with a strong road win at Notre Dame. The Badgers already have an SEC skin on the wall. Power versus power in a Big Ten clash. Sparty 24-20

No. 13 Florida State at South Florida (Line: Florida State -5.5)
Lamar Jackson just scored on Florida State again. How will the Noles rebound against a fiery South Florida squad? They better be awake for this nooner, or look out. Noles 41-34

No. 12 Georgia at No. 23 Ole Miss (Line: Ole Miss -7)
Uga has been on life support the past two weeks, escaping Nicholls by two points at home and needing a last-minute TD to knock off Mizzou. The Rebs' two losses are to FSU and Bama when they had 21+ point leads in each. Now, they're in a spot where 1-3 is a real possibility. Rebs 30-17

Pittsburgh at North Carolina (Line: North Carolina -7)
Underrated matchup of the week. This early-season ACC Coastal battle will go a long with for the division race. The Carolina offense is on a roll, but the Panthers have proven they can score too. Heels 47-38

BYU vs. West Virginia - at FedEx Field in Landover, Mary. (Line: West Virginia -7)
Future Big 12 conference game? Maybe. But what a difference in the fan bases! The Mountaineers look to remain unbeaten and are playing closer to home. The Cougs are struggling on offense, averaging 17 points per game. Not gonna fly in the Big 12. 'Eers 45-17

Penn State at No. 4 Michigan (Line: Michigan -19)
Harbaugh's boys got a scare from Colorado. Penn State ain't no Colorado. The Nittany Lions are too worried about restoring JoePa's statue - which is ridiculous. Wolverines 42-10

No. 19 Florida at No. 14 Tennessee (Line: Tennessee - 6.5)
Gone are the days when this was must-watch football. Florida has won 11 in a row against the Vols. Good news for Tennessee is this isn't Florida Tech or something. Vols 20-13

No. 18 LSU at Auburn (Line: LSU -3.5)
Another week for Auburn, another "hot seat" game. As in, both coaches are on the hot seat with the temperature getting warmer for the loser. Gus Malzahn is 0-1 so far this season. He's also 0-1 against opponents also named Tigers. Mostly because the offensive genius has an offense that isn't very, umm, offensive. Gold Tigers 23-17

Oklahoma State at No. 16 Baylor (Line: Baylor -7.5)
Baylor finally plays someone actually IN the Big 12, not someone lobbying to get in (SMU, Rice, etc.). Jim Grobe will probably just stand there and look like he's talking on the headset. Bears 45-35

No. 7 Stanford at UCLA (Line: Stanford -3)
The Rosen One or the #WildCaff? Oh please, why is this even a question. Trees 31-17

No. 17 Arkansas vs. No. 10 Texas A&M - at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Line: Texas A&M -5.5)
Game of the day finally arrives. Kevin Sumlin and A&M have no problem winning in September. It's the rest of the season when the Aggies fall apart. It's been said before, but "this year looks different." We'll see. For now, can't pick against 'em in September. Ags 33-30

Trevor Knight (8) leads undefeated Texas A&M into the Southwest Classic with Arkansas.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

The Morning After... The Much-Needed Win

1) As stated in last week's TMA, Clemson's lopsided win over SC State was fully expected. And the result didn't matter. Clemson may as well have been playing a high school team. The Tigers were superior at every position, led 31-0 after just one quarter, and held SC State to 102 total yards, most of which came in garbage time at the end of the game.

2) On the plus side, Clemson did look extremely loose and as close to what it was a season ago on offense as it has through three games this year. Deshaun Watson started 6-for-6 and finished with three touchdown passes. The receivers had a tremendous game, including Ray-Ray McCloud who scored twice and is looking like a dynamic threat to go alongside Mike Williams and Artavis Scott. And defensively, the Tigers' front seven harassed Bulldog QBs early and often.

3) The other positive was all the playing time young players received. Freshman sensation Tavien Feaster led Clemson with 12 carries for 83 yards and scored his first career touchdown. A total of 15 Tigers caught passes - sophomore Trevion Thompson and freshman Diondre Overton collected the first TD receptions of their careers. Clemson had 30 defensive players record a statistic. It was everything Dabo Swinney could have hoped for.

4) There's trouble brewing in Norman, Oklahoma. The preseason No. 3-ranked Sooners are now 1-2 with a bye week ahead of a road game at TCU and the Red River Showdown with Texas. I won't win over many of my OU friends with this statement, but the Sooners have become soft. In the past season plus three games when Oklahoma has faced a team that smacked it in the mouth, OU has rolled over. Texas did it. Clemson did it. Houston and now Ohio State. In fact, Oklahoma is 8-4 in its last 12 games. From my point of view, Oklahoma isn't throwing the first punch and asserting its dominance like the big boys in college football do. Nor is it responding to a few blows - like Alabama did yesterday with Ole Miss. Once the other team gets in a few shots, consider the Sooners done.

5) Over the course of the game with Ohio State, the Buckeyes showed a clear talent gap. OU at times looked lost defensively, which has led to many Sooner fans calling for the firing on defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. That's going to make it pretty awkward for brother Bob to make that call. Speaking of Bob, you have to wonder if his moniker "Big Game Bob" will ever return. Aside from stomping a weak Big 12 schedule, there have been few times when Oklahoma walked onto a big stage and walked away with a victory. Somethings gotta change, or we can continue to put OU in the top five during the preseason only to see the Sooners falter.

6) Can someone check Lamar Jackson for a birth certificate? Because he just doesn't even seem human. Or as my father-in-law put it, he has "Alien skills." With road games at Clemson and Houston remaining, the Cards have only a few hurdles to jump through before stating their case for a Playoff spot. Expect Oct. 1 at Death Valley to be a monster matchup.

6B) Speaking of "Alien skills," check out the photo below for not only the catch of the year, but arguably one of the top three catches in college football. Ever. How Ohio State's Noah Brown - who is barely seen here - caught this for a touchdown is beyond me.

(Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports)

7) The Gus Bus is getting lighter by the day. Gus Malzahn's time at Auburn may soon be up. The War Eagles looked pathetic on offense again, falling to Texas A&M 29-16 at home. Auburn (1-2) still has games against LSU (this weekend) and a home date with Arkansas, but has to travel to Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama. Chalk up at least four more losses for a 6-6 finish. People on The Plains won't be thrilled with playing in the Birmingham two years in a row.

8) Conference watch: The Big Ten has depth. Michigan State opened a big lead at Notre Dame before holding on late. Michigan is where we thought it'd be at this point. Wisconsin already has a win over LSU. Nebraska beat Pac-12 power Oregon and is finding its rhythm on offense. And there's aforementioned Ohio State. ... On the flip side, the Big 12 is treading water. Only two teams are undefeated - Baylor (3-0) and West Virginia (2-0). The Bears have beaten Northwestern State, SMU, and Rice. The conference slate begins with Oklahoma State Saturday, and there's a three-game stretch at Texas, vs. TCU, and at OU. The Mountaineers had a bye, but so far have defeated a now 1-2 Missouri team and Youngstown State. In the way-too-early, but probably true department, it looks like the Big 12 will be out of the Playoff for the second time in three years. ... Elsewhere, the ACC looks to come down to the Clemson-Louisville game on Oct. 1. It's Alabama in the SEC, and then everyone else. And Stanford looks to be the class of the Pac-12 once again, but a Friday night date with Washington to close out September could change things there. ... Houston has the clear shot to lead the Group of 5 teams if it can finish undefeated with that win against Louisville in November.

9) Quick hitters: Don't schedule North Dakota State. Iowa found out the hard way, losing the game 23-21 to the Bison and losing $500,000 in the process. ... Arkansas meets Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, this weekend. The winner will assert itself as next-in-line behind Alabama in the SEC West. In the SEC East, Florida takes an 11-game winning streak over Tennessee to Rocky Top. The winner there has the upperhand to take that division. ... It might be time to recognize that Bobby Petrino is one of the best coaches currently in college football. Aside from his legal issues, Petrino has taken Louisville to new heights two different times, and don't forget what he did at Arkansas pre-motorcycle accident. It'll be interesting to see if Petrino bolts Louisville a second time if say Auburn, LSU, or someone of the like calls.

10) Clemson enters conference play and goes on the road to a place it hasn't won since 2003 - Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are primed for an upset on a Thursday night Whiteout game. The Tigers have won three of the last four in the series and seemingly have the upperhand in the talent area. Won't matter come Thursday in ATL. Beat Georgia Tech.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 3

New format, same idea. No need to delve into too many details on every team. Hey, I never claimed to be an expert. 

Big week on tap as the top three teams in the rankings are all on the road at a ranked opponent. Will we find out a lot on this "Shakeup Saturday?"

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 10-3

Overall: 19-6 (.760 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Saturday

No. 25 Miami at Appalachian State (Line: Miami -3.5)
What a fun atmosphere it will be in Boone, N.C. I'm reluctant to do this, but give me Miami. Canes 26-20

No. 2 Florida State at No. 10 Louisville (Line: Florida State - 1)
FSU's defense took a hit and will miss Derwin James. That Lamar Jackson kid is something special. Call me a Bird-liever. Cards 31-27

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson is a can't miss act right now.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

South Carolina State at No. 5 Clemson (No Line)
Deshaun Watson and Clemson's offense has to get on a roll soon, right? RIGHT?! Tigers 56-10

No. 22 Oregon at Nebraska (Line: Nebraska -3.5)
Interesting B1G-Pac-12 battle in Lincoln. Oregon looks fast (again) and Nebraska looks improved. The difference in this one? Rolls Royce Freeman. Ducks 41-28

Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State (Line: Oklahoma State -4.5)
OSU got #MACtioned last week. How will they respond? Meanwhile, one of the best stories in the land is the return of James Conner. Pitt looked solid last week against Penn State. Can they take their show on the road? Panthers 34-27

No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 Ole Miss (Line: Alabama -11)
Surely, Bama won't lose for a third time to the Rebs. Jalen Hurts brings a new dynamic to Lane Kiffin's offense. Chad Kelly won't be the best QB on the field. Tide 49-24

No. 17 Texas A&M at Auburn (Line: Auburn -3.5)
The only answer we'll get out of this one is which coach has the seat warmer turned up another notch afterward. Tigers 33-24

Mississippi State at No. 20 LSU (Line: LSU -14)
Looks like LSU has something that resembles a quarterback in the Etling kid. Mississippi State won't have enough cowbell for Leonard Fournette. Tigers 23-7

No. 12 Michigan State at No. 18 Notre Dame (Line: Notre Dame -7.5)
Sparty has played one game and per usual, looked simplistic in it. DeShone Kizer is the real deal for Notre Dame. Irish 37-20

No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Oklahoma (Line: Ohio State -1)
Should be a Top 4 match-up and could be a high-scoring affair on the plains. This is the first test of the season for JT Barrett and company. Typically, Big Game Bob shows up in September against the big boys. Sooners 38-35

USC at No. 7 Stanford (Line: Stanford -9)
David Shaw is perhaps the most underrated coach in America. Oh, and Stanford has that McCaffrey guy. Trees 44-17

UCLA at BYU (Line: UCLA -3)
BYU suffered a tough loss to Utah last week, so their psyche will be tested. Josh Rosen probably should just keep his mouth shut and play football. He's pretty good when he does. Bruins 28-24

No. 11 Texas at Cal (Line: Texas -7)
"Texas is back, folks!" All due respect to Joe Tessitore, I would've only believed it if he said, "Texas is back, y'all!" But Texas does look like it is back. Or at least on the way back. Shane Buechele is purdy darn good. Let's just see him perform on the road. Horns 45-31

-BtW

The Morning After...The Orange Bowl!

Dabo Swinney celebrates his second Orange Bowl victory.
(Photo courtesy The Miami Herald)

1) It's been written and said all season long: What a time to be a Tiger! The Paw is headed to the National Championship game for the first time in 34 years. Clemson's first and only national title came during the 1981 season - 1982 Orange Bowl - and the Tigers haven't really sniffed it since. Until now. I'm 29 years old, so this is a first in my lifetime. What a time to be alive and what a time to be a Tiger, indeed!

2) The Fake - This play should go down in Clemson lore alongside "The Catch" and "The Catch II." Simply put, it was a brilliant call and it sparked the team when it needed a spark most. Dabo Swinney was lambasted by media outlets for his lashing of punter Andy Teasdall's admittedly stupid decision to call his own number on fake punt int he ACC Championship Game. It failed miserably and Swinney let him have it with all the cameras focused on the tirade. So what else would Swinney call but a fake punt when trailing 7-3 and the offense sputtering early on. 

3) It wasn't until the second half, though, that Clemson pulled away from the Sooners. The Tigers dominated in the trenches, opening up a running attack that saw them set a school bowl record with 312 rushing yards. On the defensive side, Clemson harrassed Baker Mayfield all night and knocked out Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, OU's talented running back tandem. The Sooners gained 67 yards on the ground. The Tigers averaged 5.4 yards per rush with Wayne Gallman totaling 150 yards and Deshaun Watson posting 145.

4) Quick notes, courtesy of Clemson's SID: Clemson went 14-0 in 2015, just the eighth team in FBS history to win 14 games and the first time ever Clemson has won 14 games in a season ... Gained 530 yards, its 10th straight game of 500-plus yards, half the games coming against Top 40 defenses ... Watson is 18-1 as a starter, 17-0 when he starts and finishes a game healthy ... Swinney is 9-4 against Top 10 teams and is also 9-4 in NFL stadiums ... Gallman's 1,482 rushing yards set a single-season record ... Watson became the first Tiger and only third player in FBS history with 3,500 yards passing and 1,000 rushing. He can become the first player ever with 4,000 and 1,000 if he passes for 301 yards against Alabama.

5) Alabama did Alabama things to Michigan State in a 38-0 rout of the Spartans. While Heisman winner Derrick Henry was limited to 75 yards on 20 carries, it was Jake Coker who showed the Crimson Tide can sling the ball a little bit, too. Coker was 25-30 (83.3%) for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the win. When Michigan State bottled up Alabama's vaunted running game, the Tide went to the air. On the flip side, Alabama asserted it's defensive dominance, holding the Spartans to 29 total yards rushing. 

6) I was very outspoken about the Clemson-OU and Bama-MSU matchups being wrong, and I feel that was justified on New Year's Eve. Michigan State was clearly the worst of the four teams. They hadn't looked dominant in any of their wins over their best opponents and they failed to get anything going last night. Oklahoma was leading No. 1 Clemson at halftime and had more impressive wins over three better opponents that the Spartans. It's a shame the committee can jump a team from fifth to third (MSU) and drop a team from third to fourth (OU) just because it feels like it. I would've loved to have seen two contrasting styles in the semifinal games and see which would prevail.

7) Regardless, we get the matchup most everybody wants to see - Clemson vs. Alabama. No. 1 vs. No. 2. SEC's best vs. ACC's best. College football's blue blood against college football's new blood. The storylines will write themselves: Dabo Swinney, a former walk-on wide receiver at Bama against his alma mater; Clemson's tempo offense against Alabama's physical and fast defense; Two Heisman finalists pitted against each other ... the list goes on. I have my own story, which I will blog about later on. I hope you will enjoy it.

8) It was a great season for the Oklahoma Sooners and they should be proud of what they accomplished after an 8-5 season a year ago. Aside from what appears to be a fluke loss to Texas, OU ran roughshod over the Big 12, winning the conference crown and becoming the first Big 12 team to make the College Football Playoff. Bob Stoops resurrected a team that was left for dead following last season and after the loss to the Horns in October. Several key players will move on, either graduating or electing to go to the NFL, but it's Oklahoma. The Sooners will reload and have a solid core coming back next year. I hate to say it, because for my family's sake I hate when Clemson and Oklahoma play each other, but the Sooners and Tigers could be in this Playoff thing again next year.

9) Not to be left out, congrats to Houston for the huge Peach Bowl win yesterday against Florida State. The Cougs gave the Group of 5 its second win in as many years in a New Year's Six Bowl (Boise State beat Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl last year). Tom Herman has the Houston train rolling and it could be headed to a Power 5 conference in the near future.

10) Nothing else to be said here. Beat Alabama.

-BtW

PTW - Prediction Time Wednesday

Because it's Bowl Season! And that means wacky weekdays filled with college football games. I averted from picking all 40 bowl games and instead am bringing you my picks from the best of the remaining matchups. I mean, how can anyone rightfully pick games involving 6-6 MAC and Conference USA teams?

Anyway, a couple picks up front from games that happened yesterday (Tuesday). I posted these on Twitter to ensure the selections were made before the games took place.

Championship week's record: 7-1

Overall: 76-30 (.717 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

Tuesday, Dec. 29
Russell Athletic Bowl - Orlando, Fla.
No. 10 North Carolina vs. No. 17 Baylor (Line: North Carolina -3)
*This game has already been played. My prediction: North Carolina 45, Baylor 35
FINAL: Baylor 49, North Carolina 38

Texas Bowl - Houston, Texas
No. 20 LSU vs. Texas Tech (Line: LSU -7)
*This game has already been played. My prediction was: LSU 34, Texas Tech 28
FINAL: LSU 56, Texas Tech 27

Wednesday, Dec. 30
Birmingham Bowl - Birmingham, Ala.
Auburn vs. Memphis (Line: Auburn -3)
Memphis, which beat Ole Miss early, struggled late in the season, losing three straight to the top three teams in the AAC to fall to B-ham. Auburn was predicted by the media to win the SEC during preseason. Instead, both are here. Paxton Lynch is the X-factor in this one. Memphis 42, Auburn 27

Belk Bowl - Charlotte, N.C.
NC State vs. Mississippi State (Line: Mississippi State -6)
The Wolfpack did not beat a conference team with a winning record. The Bulldogs lost two of their final three, and should have lost the third. Each team could use a win to head into the offseason with some momentum. NC State 48, Mississippi State 47

Music City Bowl - Nashville, Tenn.
Texas A&M vs. Louisville (Line: Louisville -4.5)
The Aggies are in disarray and can't keep a quarterback to stay in College Station. Bobby Petrino played musical chairs with his quarterbacks, but seemed to settle on Lamar Jackson. The Cards defense should be able to come up with enough stops against Jake Hubenak. Louisville 27, Texas A&M 20

Holiday Bowl - San Diego, Calif.
No. 25 USC vs. Wisconsin (Line: USC -3.5)
How much does USC want to be here instead of about 90 miles north in Pasadena? Not sure. The Trojans, though, were much better under Clay Helton, who now has the full-time gig. Wisconsin's record is in part because it plays in the much maligned Big Ten West. USC 42, Wisconsin 24

Thursday, Dec. 31
Peach Bowl - Atlanta, Ga.
No. 18 Houston vs. No. 9 Florida State (Line: Florida State -7)
Tom Herman has Houston flexing its collective muscle, hoping anyone from the Big 12 will take notice. Greg Ward Jr. is a phenomenal athlete and fits perfectly in Herman's system. The Noles, however, are a powerhouse with talent across the board. This is the best team the 'Cougs will have seen. Florida State 41, Houston 31

Orange Bowl - Miami Gardens, Fla.
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson (Line: Oklahoma -3.5)
The first of the Playoff Semifinals pits the Big 12 champion Sooners against the ACC champion Tigers. Both have great quarterbacks. Both have outstanding defenses. Both are extremely talented at the skill positions. And both are here for that reason. I've been back and forth on this and may flip my decision again before it's all said and done. Clemson 34, Oklahoma 27

The four teams in their Nike Mach Speed uniforms for the College Football Playoff.
(Photo courtesy Nike)

Cotton Bowl  - Arlington, Texas
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama (Line: Alabama -10)
Alabama is one-dimensional on offense. But that one dimension is a freak running back in Derrick Henry who happened to win the Heisman Trophy. Michigan State did nothing but win the big games it needed to, including at Michigan, at Ohio State, and in the Big Ten Championship against Iowa. Does Sparty have another last-minute miracle? Alabama 21, Michigan State 13

Friday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl - Tampa, Fla.
No. 13 Northwestern vs. No. 23 Tennessee (Line: Tennessee -8.5)
Tennessee is here because it couldn't close out fourth quarter leads against Florida, Oklahoma, or Alabama. The Vols won five straight to close the year and beating a solid Northwestern team would boost Butch Jones' squad into the spring. The Wildcats, as good as their 10-2 record is, were blown out by a combined 78-10 in their two losses to Michigan and Iowa. Tennessee's offense is rolling right now, so watch out. Tennessee 49, Northwestern 21

Citrus Bowl - Orlando, Fla.
No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 19 Florida (Line: Michigan -4.5)
Michigan was humbled in a 42-13 loss at home to rival Ohio State. The Wolverines, though, have played great defense for much of the year. That bodes well against a Gator team still searching for an offensive identity. Florida dropped its final two against Florida State and Alabama, scoring one offensive TD in the two games. Michigan 27, Florida 16

Fiesta Bowl - Glendale, Ariz.
No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -6.5)
Call this the game of Oh-So-Close teams. Notre Dame's two losses game to the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 6 by a combined four points. Ohio State would be in the Playoff if it hadn't lost at home on a last-second field goal to Michigan State. Either way, two very talented teams in what should be a fun chess match between Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly. Ohio State 37, Notre Dame 31

Rose Bowl - Pasadena, Calif.
No. 6 Stanford vs. No. 5 Iowa (Line: Stanford -6)
The hottest ticket this bowl season is not a Playoff game, but the Rose Bowl. Stanford and Iowa match styles offensively. Kudos to Kirk Ferentz for getting his team to the Rose Bowl for the first time in several decades. Christian McCaffrey finished second in the Heisman voting. I'm going to love watching this one. Stanford 27, Iowa 24

Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, La.
No. 16 Oklahoma State vs. No. 12 Ole Miss (Line: Ole Miss -7)
Chad Kelly kept Ole Miss afloat and the Rebels are out to avenge a 42-3 loss in the Peach Bowl to another Big 12 team (TCU) a year ago. The Cowboys may or may not have their gunslinger Mason Rudolph for the game. If he's there, this could be a shootout. If not, what OSU does with JW Walsh, who is mostly a running quarterback, but can sling it himself. Ole Miss 42, Oklahoma State 34

Saturday, Jan. 2
Taxslayer Bowl- Jacksonville, Fla.
Penn State vs. Georgia (Line: Georgia -6.5)
Georgia is without its head coach and both coordinators, and never could find rhythm on offense all year. Penn State never could win the big game, losing to the top three teams in its division. The guess here is the Dawgs are able to get to Christian Hackenberg ... a lot. Georgia 24, Penn State 7

Liberty Bowl - Memphis, Tenn.
Kansas State vs. Arkansas (Line: Arkansas -13)
The Hogs finished strong again, including pulling off wins over Ole Miss and LSU on the road down the stretch after a rough 2-4 start. K-State fell in the bottom tier of the Big 12, just above Iowa State and Kansas. The Wildcats won't have enough to slow down Alex Collins. Arkansas 35, Kansas State 20

Alamo Bowl - San Antonio, Texas
No. 15 Oregon vs. No. 11 TCU (Line: Pick 'em)
Trevone Boykin and Vernon Adams Jr. should provide fireworks. The two quarterbacks are exciting to watch. Oregon won six in a row, including knocking off Stanford, once Adams came back healthy. Boykin was the Heisman front-runner until an injury derailed his campaign and TCU's season. The Frogs will be without star receive Josh Doctson, and that might hurt TCU in this fireworks show. Oregon 55, TCU 44

Cactus Bowl - Phoenix, Ariz.
West Virginia vs. Arizona State (Line: West Virginia -1)
A de facto home game for the Sun Devils, who get to stay in the Phoenix for this one. Dana Holgorsen's Mountaineers fell in the middle of the Big 12, but never threatened the top tier. Arizona State was a popular Top 15 pick, but the formula for success never came together. Will it in the final game? Arizona State 37, West Virginia 27

The Morning After... A Championship!

1) Man, what a time to be a Tiger! Clemson completed an undefeated season 13-0, winning 13 games for the first time in school history. Dabo Swinney won the ACC Championship for the second time in five years (2011) and the win came during his 100th game as a Clemson head coach. He has a 74-26 record. The Tigers will head to the Playoff as the No. 1 team in the nation and the ONLY undefeated team in college football. Clemson has a Heisman hopeful, a young and extremely talented team, a top 10 defense, wins over four teams with 10 wins or more - three of which are in the latest Top 10 of the Playoff Rankings - and another top 10-15 recruiting class on the horizon. Clemson is making history right before our eyes. What a time to be a Tiger, indeed.

2) I'll get right to the controversial call and nip it in the bud. I've seen all kinds of explanations as to why the referee called offsides. "The players head was crossing the 35-yard-line when the ball was kicked." "They lined up a player outside the 9-yard-hash mark when the whistle was blown to put the ball in play." Look, I don't know all the rules regarding kickoffs. All I know is the call on the field happened and Clemson was the beneficiary of it. The flag came out immediately, not after UNC recovered the ball. The ref either saw, or thought he saw something. Was it wrong? Probably. Does it mean the Tar Heels would have gone down the field, scored, converted a two-point conversion, taken the game to overtime and won? I don't know.

What I do know is this...

3) Clemson had 608 yards of offense, UNC had 382. Clemson ran 98 plays, UNC ran 67. First downs: Clem-33, UNC-21. Time of possession: Clem-38:56, UNC 21:04. Third down conversions: Clem-9 of 18 (50%), UNC-5 of 14 (37%). Rushing yards: Clem-319, UNC 142. Clemson had two 100-yard rushers, UNC had zero (leading rusher Elijah Hood 81 yards). Clemson had two sacks and eight QB hurries, UNC had zero sacks and one QB hurry.

My point is, Clemson dominated the game. The scoreboard reflects an 8-point win, but the Tigers were the better team on the field. They had the better quarterback, running back, offensive line, defensive line, wide receivers ... When Clemson stopped making stupid mistakes and stopped beating itself in the second half, it pulled away. Clemson led 35-16, 42-23, and 45-30 until the final two-minutes of the game. (More on this in a moment). Over the course of a season, teams get lucky bounces and breaks, or unlucky in some cases. It doesn't change an outcome. Clemson has been on the wrong side of these calls plenty of times in the past. It's about damn time some of them go our way.

Terrible call in ACC champ game on the onside kick, but my sympathy only goes so far for a team that allowed 600 yards.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) December 6, 2015

4) Time and time again, Clemson has built a big lead and let it slip away late. Remember being up 21-3 on Notre Dame entering the fourth quarter, only to win 24-22? Remember a 31-17 lead at Syracuse entering the fourth, only to have the game in single digits and win by 10? Remember the 28-10 lead evaporated against South Carolina down to 28-25, up by 37-25, to a final of 37-32...against a three-win team? Other cases at Louisville and NC State come to mind. And then last night.

The takeaway: Yes, Clemson has given up big leads late, but the Tigers have found ways to win.

Deshaun Watson does the "Heisman pose" with the ACC Championship Football Trophy.
Watson was named the championship game's MVP.
(Photo courtesy Anderson Independent Mail)

5) What else can you say about Deshaun Watson? The sophomore - I REPEAT, HE'S A SOPHOMORE! - is the best quarterback in the country. In a championship setting against a defense all the pundits said would give the Tigers fits, Watson accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), threw for 289 yards, ran for another 131, led the offense to 608 yards - a ninth straight game of over 500 yards. He set an ACC Championship Game record for total yards. He has been in control of this offense since Day 1 and there is no one else I'd want leading my team.

Yards/touch this season: McCaffrey: 8.56 Cook: 8.05 Watson: 7.64 Henry: 5.97 (Watson = 7.92 w/o sacks)

— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) December 6, 2015

6) Speaking of the Heisman, it looks like it will be Watson, Alabama's Derrick Henry, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, and maybe Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield. The thing that hurt Mayfield (and the Sooners in the Playoff Committee's minds for that matter) was OU didn't play Saturday. Watson, Henry and McCaffrey were on full display Saturday and all three made a statement to the voters. McCaffrey had over 460 all-purpose yards and ran, passed and caught a TD in the Cardinal's 41-22 Pac-12 title game win. Henry was a workhorse for Bama, getting 44 carries, but only gaining 189 yards and scoring one TD, as the Tide rolled Florida 29-15. Any of the four could win the Heisman and there'd be little controversy, but my vote goes to ... Watson, duh!

vs Florida this year... Henry: 44-189-1 Fournette: 31-180-2 Cook: 26-183-2

— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) December 6, 2015

7) Alabama relied on Henry to wear down Florida, as he has done with many other opponents all season. However, Alabama has yet to play a complete team on its schedule, perhaps outside of Ole Miss ... which the Tide lost. Alabama is SEC Champions, but this is a really down year for the SEC. Clemson has three wins over teams currently in the Playoff Top 10. Alabama has three wins over teams in the current Top 25 total. Oklahoma has four Top 25 wins. Michigan State has four. I question the Committee keeping Bama second. I'll hang up and listen.

8) Michigan State now has three last-minute wins over Top 20 opponents, plus a three-point win over Oregon. The Spartans deserve to be in the Top 4, that much is true. But, there is no way you can tell me MSU should be any higher than fourth.

9) On that note, here's how I would rank the Top 4 today - 1) Clemson 2) Oklahoma 3) Alabama 4) Michigan State. I'm guessing it won't look like this. Bama will likely be second and because of some bogus "we don't want Alabama to play in the Cotton Bowl against OU" conspiracy, I'm guessing Michigan State will be third and they'll send OU to Miami against Clemson. Those who don't know - my wife is an OU grad. We've already been through this a season ago when the Tigers and Sooners squared off in the Russell Athletic Bowl. It's no fun.

10) 13-0. ACC Champs. Undisputed No. 1 in the country. 16 straight wins. Playoff Bound. CU in Miami!

Current Mood: 🏆💍 🐅 What a time to be a Tiger! 🐾 pic.twitter.com/ARezdNziAN

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 6, 2015

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Championship Week

Are we really at the final weekend of the season? Man, where did this fall go? Four of the Power 5 conferences host their championship games this weekend, while the other (Big 12) has already had its title decided. There's a lot on the line this weekend for multiple teams. How will it shake out and who after the weekend is headed to the College Football Playoff?

Last week's record: 12-7

Overall: 69-29 (.704 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

Friday
MAC - Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois - At Detroit (Line: Bowling Green -12)
One last round of #MACtion. Northern Illinois backed its way into the title game after losing at Ohio to close the season then saw Toledo fall. Bowling Green is tied for fourth in the country at 44 points per game. There will probably be a lot of points scored ... it is #MACtion after all. The Falcons will score more. Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 30

Saturday
AAC - No. 22 Temple at No. 19 Houston (Line: Houston -6)
Tom Herman agreed to remain Houston's head coach and that alone is enough reason to believe the Cougars will roll in this one. Temple hasn't been the same since its loss to Notre Dame. The Owls are still a very good team, but they must travel for this one. Houston steamrolled past Navy last week and will carry that momentum into this one on its way to a New Year's Six Bowl. Houston 37, Temple 27

Conference USA - Southern Miss at Western Kentucky (Line: Western Kentucky -7.5)
Jeff Brohm has been another candidate for several head coach openings, but the Hilltoppers' coach said he's committed to WKU. Both teams missed out on chances to pull the upset against Power 5 teams earlier in the year. Aside from Southern Miss' flop at Marshall, both teams have dominated conference play. It could be another shootout. Western Kentucky 52, Southern Miss 49

SEC - No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 18 Florida - At Atlanta (Line: Alabama -18)
When Alabama and Florida get together for the SEC Championship Game, it just feels right. The Tide and Gators have met eight times with the conference crown on the line. The only real intrigue in this one is whether Florida's defense can slow down Derrick Henry for four quarters. No one has been able to do so, yet. But none of the defenses Alabama has faced compare to the Gators. Florida's inept offense won't be able to do much against Bama's D. This one should be over early. Alabama 35, Florida 7

Mountain West - Air Force at San Diego State (Line: San Diego State -6.5)
It's great to see one of the Service Academies with a chance to shine on a big stage. Troy Calhoun and the Falcons head west where the upstart Aztecs. SDSU reeled off eight straight wins to close out the regular season. Air Force won five in a row before losing at New Mexico last Saturday. Air Force's option offense will cause problems for San Diego State, which hasn't seen anything like it all season. Should be a good game that many will miss due to the final three games of the day. Air Force 34, San Diego State 31

Pac-12 - No. 7 Stanford vs. No. 20 USC - At Santa Clara (Line: Stanford -4.5)
Stanford defeated USC way back in September, 41-31, and the two teams went in opposite directions for a while. The Cardinal won their next six and have an outside shot at a Playoff berth. The Trojans lost two of their next three and found themselves with an interim coach (Clay Helton), who has now had the interim tag removed. Southern Cal clawed back to win the Pac-12 South over rival UCLA last week and not many are giving them a chance in Stanford's back yard. Christian McCaffrey is the best player on the field and that will be the difference. Stanford 28, USC 24

Big Ten - No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan State - At Indianapolis (Line: Michigan State -3.5)
A de facto play-in game for the College Football Playoff, the Big Ten Championship Game has plenty of intrigue. Can Iowa stay undefeated, or will Michigan State punch its ticket to the Playoff? Will the winner look impressive enough to move into the No. 3 spot. Spartan QB Connor Cook is the reason MSU is here and the senior leader looks to claim his second Big Ten Championship. Although the Hawkeyes are undefeated, they haven't been tested like the Spartans have. Michigan State 31, Iowa 17

Dabo Swinney can lead Clemson to an ACC title
and a Playoff berth with a win against North Carolina.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

ACC - No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 10 North Carolina - At Charlotte (Line: Clemson -5)
Perhaps the game of the weekend goes to the ACC. All the questions and build-up to this one have the Playoff Committee on edge. A Clemson win and they can rest easy. A Tar Heel win and the Playoff unveiling set for noon Sunday may have to be pushed back several hours - or days - to allow the Committee enough time to decipher the Top 4. The two quarterbacks in this game have received all the spotlight, and rightfully so. Clemson's Deshaun Watson is up for Heisman consideration and Marquise Williams has been nothing short of spectacular for 11 straight games for the Heels. But the defenses will be the key and that's where the Tigers have the advantage. UNC hasn't seen a defense like Clemson's all season. The Tigers have a few bumps and bruises, but they'll be ready to slow down the Tar Heel attack. Should be a dandy and might turn into a shootout. Clemson 41, North Carolina 34

-BtW

Rapid Reax: CFB Playoff Rankings - Week 5

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers top the College Football
Playoff Rankings for the fifth straight week.
(Photo courtesy The AP)

Not much changed at the top, as all the schools in the top five won over the weekend. Clemson holds onto the No. 1 spot for the fifth straight week. The Tigers have been at the top for all of the weekly rankings this season. Alabama remained No. 2 with Oklahoma and Iowa staying put at 3 and 4.

However, I'm surprised the Committee continues to value Alabama's schedule more than Oklahoma's. In this week's rankings, the Tide have wins over No. 21 LSU and No. 25 Tennessee. The Sooners have wins against No. 11 TCU, No. 12 Baylor, No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Tennessee.

I realize Oklahoma's loss is bad - very, very bad - and Alabama's loss is to the team currently ranked No. 13. But the Committee has said over and over that they value a team's wins more than the losses. If true, Oklahoma has three wins better than any of Alabama's and two more than the Tide over currently ranked teams. Plus, in the spirit of comparing games against common opponents, Oklahoma has a seven-point road win at Tennessee, while Alabama has a five-point home win over the Vols.

In my non-expert opinion, Oklahoma has looked much better than Alabama and has better wins more recently to back it up, which includes a 35-point beatdown over rival Oklahoma State (previously ranked No. 11) on the road. I guess Alabama's reputation weighs heavier than actual metrics and resumes.

Beyond the Top 4, Michigan State is fifth, which is irrelevant at this point because the Spartans and Hawkeyes battle for the Big Ten Championship this weekend with the winner all but certain to be in the final Top 4. Whether the winner jumps to the No. 3 spot or higher will be worth keeping an eye on Sunday when the final rankings are released.

Ohio State is sixth, followed by Stanford, Notre Dame, Florida State and North Carolina rounding out the Top 10. Speculation has run rampant as to what the Committee would do with the Tar Heels should they beat No. 1 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game this weekend. The Heels' schedule is one of the weakest in the country, but UNC would have one of the longest win streaks to that point and have arguably the best win of the season - over the top-ranked Tigers.

I'd hate to be a Committee member if that happened. You'd be arguing potential ACC Champ UNC vs. one-loss non-champ Ohio State vs. potential Pac-12 Champ but two-loss Stanford vs. one-loss non-champ Clemson (who the Committee had No. 1 in every poll). You could even throw the Big Ten title game loser - two-loss Michigan State, who beat OSU, or one-loss Iowa - into the debate as well. The guess here is Stanford would get the boost by being a conference champion, but honestly, that's throwing a dart at the wall.

One week left before the final poll. Remember, the final rankings will be released at Noon ET this Sunday.

Here's the CFB Playoff Top 10
1) Clemson
2) Alabama
3) Oklahoma
4) Iowa
5) Michigan State
6) Ohio State
7) Stanford
8) Notre Dame
9) Florida State
10) North Carolina

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Eighth Edition

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

It was status quo for the Top 4 after a closer-than-expected rivalry weekend. Behind that, multiple changes. Championship Weekend is upon us, so let's see how they stack up at the top before the final rankings are released next week.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are locked in to the top spot again.
(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)

1) Clemson (12-0)

Previously: 1
Clemson closed out the regular season with a second consecutive win over in-state rival South Carolina. Deshaun Watson was healthy all year and because of that, the Tigers are 12-0 for the first time since 1981. Clemson faces surging North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Charlotte.

2) Iowa (12-0)

Previously: 2
The Hawkeyes are the only other unbeaten team in the FBS, having secured their 12th win with a 28-20 victory at Nebraska. Iowa has quality wins on its schedule, but not a signature one. That could come against Michigan State in the Big Ten title game this weekend in Indianapolis.

3) Oklahoma (11-1)

Previously: 3
Baker Mayfield has the Sooners offense rolling. Behind the ground attack of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, Oklahoma has reeled off seven impressive wins in a row, the latter three coming against ranked teams Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State - two of which were on the road. Oklahoma is the outright Big 12 champion and awaits the final CFB Playoff Poll to find out its fate.

4) Alabama (11-1)

Previously: 4
Alabama survived its trip to the Plains for the Iron Bowl. The Tide have a wrecking ball at running back in Derrick Henry and he gashed Auburn's defense to the tune of 271 yards on 46 carries. Now, Alabama faces Florida for the SEC championship in Atlanta. The Gators are coming off a 27-2 defeat at home at the hands of Florida State. 

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Michigan State (11-1)
Previously: 7
The Spartans emphatically defeated Penn State, 55-16, to clinch the Big Ten East Division and a matchup with Iowa in Indy. Connor Cook looked healthy over the weekend and that gives MSU a big advantage in the B1G Championship. Michigan State has wins over Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State, and would solidify its place in the Top 4 by knocking off currently undefeated Iowa.

6) North Carolina (11-1)
Previously: 8
Outside of Clemson and Iowa, there's only one team with 10-plus wins in a row ... that'd be North Carolina, which has 11 straight wins. The Tar Heels went up 35-7 in the first quarter over rival NC State on their way to a 45-34 win. UNC finished conference play 8-0 and set up one of the most intriguing championship games of the weekend against No. 1 Clemson. Can the Heels reach the Playoff with a win?

7) Ohio State (11-1)

Previously: 10

After looking offensively challenged against Michigan State, the Buckeyes bounced back and looked most dominant at Michigan in a 42-13 victory. The only question with this team is, where was that all year? Had the Buckeyes been that impressive, there'd be no questioning their ranking - and they might not have fallen to Michigan State. What could have been...

8) Stanford (10-2)
Previously: NR
Kevin Hogan and the Cardinal went blow-for-blow with Notre Dame and got in the last punch to knock off the Irish, 38-36. The win boosted Stanford's chances to reach the Playoff, should there be chaos at the top. In the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford will face four-loss USC, a team it beat way back in September, 41-31.

9) Florida State (10-2)
Previously: NR
Florida State's Dalvin Cook might be the most underrated running back in college. Cook carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards and two scores in helping FSU defeat the Gators in front of the largest crowd ever at The Swamp, 27-2. The Noles await the final poll for their destination - likely a NY6 Bowl.

10) Notre Dame (10-2)

Previously: 5

The Irish claim to fame right now? Two road losses to Top 10 teams by two points each. Notre Dame had its six-game winning streak snapped with a heart-breaking loss at Stanford and now has lost by two points to the Cardinal and Clemson. The problem is, other than a home win against USC, that's about all ND has to crow about. Still, the Irish are in a good position and will probably end up in the Fiesta Bowl

Next three up:

TCU (10-2)
In the cold and driving rain, TCU found a way in double OT to take down Baylor and come away 1-2 in its big November games. The Horned Frogs positioned themselves to grab a top-tier bowl game, but losing star receiver Josh Doctson (for the season) and quarterback Trevone Boykin (missed 1.5 games) ended championship hopes for Gary Patterson's squad.

Baylor (9-2)
Like TCU, the Bears went 1-2 during their three-game swoon against the Big 12's best. And like TCU, it was injuries that did Baylor wrong. Quarterback Seth Russell was sorely missed in losses to OU and TCU. Baylor still has one game to play, a home game against Texas, to try to reach double-digit wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It appears the Bears would be headed to the Sugar Bowl, but that is not certain.
 
Oregon (9-3)
The Ducks have to be wondering what this season could've been if Vernon Adams Jr. stayed healthy. Oregon has won six straight since his return to the lineup and the offense looks lethal, almost like when Heisman winner Marcus Mariota led the Ducks. Oregon could land in the Alamo Bowl against one of the Big 12 powers.

Dropped out:
Baylor (6) and Oklahoma State (9)

-BtW

The Morning After...

Deshaun Watson helped Clemson complete an undefeated regular season
by knocking off in-state rival South Carolina, 37-32.
(Photo courtesy TheClemsonInsider.com)

1) State champs. Again. Another 365 days of bragging rights for the Clemson faithful (actually 366 because next year is Leap Year - you're welcome!). It doesn't matter if it's by one or 50. A win over your arch-rival is never disappointing. It's even better when it's on their home field. I hope South Carolina fans enjoyed their little five-year run. We've taken back our state. Some call it a rivalry. We call it domination. 67-42-4.

2) Turnovers have become a theme for Clemson lately, and not in a good way. Three fumbles yesterday by the top three offensive players nearly cost the Tigers dearly. When Dabo Swinney tells the media the "coach-speak" saying of "We can't beat ourselves," this is what he means. Had Clemson not turned it over and had the Tigers scored on just two of those three drives, this would've been a blow out instead of coming down to the final few minutes. Dabo said postgame, "When we win the turnover margin, we're going to kill somebody." He's right.

3) Disappointed in the defensive effort. After poor performances against NC State and Syracuse, Brent Venables lit into the defense and the unit responded with a solid showing against Wake Forest. However, they backtracked against South Carolina, allowing over 400 yards and the most points the Gamecocks scored all season. Big chunk plays continue to be an issue. With high-flying North Carolina on deck, those need to get corrected immediately. Or, it could be a long night in Charlotte.

4) Deshaun Watson probably won't win the Heisman Trophy this year, but he deserves to be in New York City when they hand out the hardware. I get that Derrick Henry has been a beast for Alabama and his best games have come when the Tide have played on a national stage. I get that Baker Mayfield - more on him in a minute - has been a human highlight reel week in and week out. But Watson, a sophomore, has played with poise when it mattered most and shown Tiger fans and the rest of the country how to lead a team desperate not to fall back into the days of "Clemsoning." All preseason the narrative was Clemson would have a chance IF Watson remained healthy. Well, he's been healthy for all 12 games. And Clemson has a chance to do something special. To think he's only 17 games into his career - just over a season and half, officially as a starter - and he's 16-1 in those games is remarkable. Did I mention he's only a sophomore?

5) Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners blasted the Oklahoma State Cowboys. A 30-point second quarter was all OU needed in a 58-23 Bedlam Bombardment. Mayfield finished with just 180 yards passing and 77 yards rushing, but accounted for three TDs. Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, the Sooners' two-headed monster at running back, ran wild with 267 yards and four TDs combined. The win clinched the outright Big 12 title for Oklahoma, its ninth - all under Bob Stoops. It very well may have clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff. The final rankings are Dec. 6 and the Sooners, who are finished playing games for now, are sure to be in the Top 4.

5B) I'm just gonna leave this right here... This is Oklahoma State.

6) Rivalry week lived up to its billing. There were many close calls, a few upsets, smiles and tears, and trophies both remaining on the same sideline and being taken away to their new homes. In-state battles provided those living within its borders a chance to gleam for the next year. Border clashes provided state teams and their fans the right to crow to their neighboring brethren. No other sport on the planet comes close to college football and the rivalries created between friends, neighbors and families. To the victors, enjoy the spoils. To the, um, losers, there's always next year.

7) There were three games over the weekend that provided even more clarity for the playoff picture. No. 7 Baylor fell to No. 19 TCU Friday night, knocking the Bears out of contention. That meant the winner between No. 3 OU and No. 11 OSU would clinch the Big 12 and have the conference's best chance at cracking the Top 4. OU did that and should be in Dallas or Miami New Year's Eve. The third was No. 9 Stanford hosting No. 6 Notre Dame.

The game lived up to its billing and was a lot of fun to watch. Back-and-forth all game, the Irish looked to secure the victory with a touchdown with 30 seconds remaining to go ahead 36-35. Kevin Hogan marched the Cardinal down the field to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired for the 38-36 win. Notre Dame has now lost on the road to two Top 10 teams by two points each. What the Irish lack is a signature win. Brian Kelly deserves a ton of credit for managing an injury-plagued roster and giving the Irish a chance to win every game. Still, Notre Dame likely ends up in a New Year's Six Bowl. Meanwhile, Stanford takes on USC, which beat crosstown rival UCLA, in the Pac-12 title game and hopes for chaos in the ACC, Big Ten and SEC.

8) Ohio State bounced back from its loss to Michigan State by trouncing rival Michigan in the Big House. The Buckeyes somehow are still in the hunt for a Playoff berth if chaos does take place. With Nos. 6 and 7 falling, it's very likely OSU moves to sixth with the loser of the Big Ten championship (Michigan State vs. Iowa) falling behind the Buckeyes in the final poll. That means Ohio State would need at least one upset in the ACC or SEC title games, maybe both. If Clemson and Alabama win, the Top 4 will be set - Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Iowa/Michigan State.

9) Quick hitters: Speaking of Sparty, MSU thrashed Penn State 55-16 en route to clinching the Big Ten East Division, setting up the matchup with Iowa next week. ... Florida's offense was MIA in a 27-2 loss to Florida State. The Seminoles could move up into the Top 10 with several teams ahead of them losing. Florida now must figure out a way to score against Alabama, or the SEC Championship will be a one-sided affair. ... Houston and Temple will duke it out for the AAC Championship next weekend. The unranked Cougars knocked off Navy 52-31, while No. 25 Temple defeated UConn 27-3. The winner potentially will be the highest ranked Group of 5 team and will earn a NY6 Bowl berth.  ... Les Miles was going to be fired. Then, he wasn't. Then, he probably was. And sometime during a 19-7 win over Texas A&M, the powers that be decided he wasn't, though, they didn't say anything and Miles was carried off the field on the shoulders of LSU players. He sang the alma mater on SEC Network, then answered the sideline reporter's questions about what that game meant to him. Then, he found out before the postgame press conference that he would continue to be LSU's coach for the foreseeable future. A non-story story because why not?

10) The Tigers are on the doorstep of history. A chance at 13 wins, something no Clemson team has every accomplished. The Tar Heels are riding an 11-game winning streak and look to spruce up their résumé with a win over the top-ranked team. The ACC Championship Game means something for the first time and it will be an epic battle. Beat North Carolina.


-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 13

We've arrived at Rivalry Week. After going 22-8 the past two weeks, I'm feeling some confidence as we enter the home stretch before bowl season. This week should be fun. Tons of great games, ranked matchups, and sure-to-be upsets with rivalries taking the stage. The slate is filled with both in-state and cross-border rivalry games (rivalry nicknames in italics below), so many more to choose from than normal. I'll give it my best!

Last week's record: 12-3

Overall: 57-22 (.722 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

Friday
No. 15 Navy at Houston (Line: Navy -4)
No rivalry to speak of here, but an important game nonetheless. The first of several winner-take-all battles this weekend takes place in Houston. Navy, whose only loss is to Notre Dame, will earn its first trip to the AAC Championship Game with a win. Houston suffered a major setback with its loss at UConn last week, but can also clinch the AAC West title with a win. Keenan Reynolds has perfected the art of the triple-option offense and has the Midshipmen eyeing a unprecedented New Year's Six Bowl appearance. Navy 38, Houston 27

No. 4 Iowa at Nebraska (Line: Iowa -2)
Battle for the Heroes Trophy (Series: Nebraska leads 29-13-3)
Nebraska has won three of the four matchups since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, including an overtime thriller at Iowa a year ago. Iowa hopes to keep its perfect season alive and remain in contention for a Playoff berth. A loss in Lincoln would be tough to overcome (or would it Michigan State?). The Huskers could be the only team to knock off both the Hawkeyes and Spartans. Meh, maybe not. Iowa 35, Nebraska 20

No. 20 Washington State at Washington (Line: Washington -7)
The Apple Cup (Series: Washington leads 69-32-6)
This one has surprise written all over it, as the Cougars are 8-3 and poised for a 10-win season if they can beat Washington and win a bowl game. The game, however, is in Seattle and the Huskies are looking to becoming bowl eligible. WSU QB Luke Falk is questionable after suffering a concussion a week ago. Still, Mike Leach's teams love to sling it and UW has been flaky this season (flaky enough to give head coach Chris Petersen a two-year extension Thursday). Washington State 38, Washington 34

Oregon State at No. 17 Oregon (Line: Oregon -36)
The Civil War (Series: Oregon leads 62-46-10)
The Ducks have looked much improved since the return of Vernon Adams Jr., winning five in a row to climb back into the rankings. Oregon knocked off Stanford two weeks ago and blew out USC last week. The line on this one is all you need to know. Oregon 62, Oregon State 17

No. 7 Baylor at No. 19 TCU (Line: TCU -1.5)
The Revivalry (Series: Baylor leads 52-51-7)
This one was circled on Big 12 calendars throughout Texas. And then Seth Russell went down. So did Trevone Boykin. And Josh Doctson. And both teams have lost (TCU twice). Baylor needs this more than the Frogs to keep its conference hopes alive. The Bears have won each of the past two meetings by three points, including last year's 61-58 barn-burner. Both teams have gone to their third-string quarterbacks, but Chris Johnson looks more like Cardale Jones. We'll see how good Boykin is in his return. Baylor 41, TCU 27

Saturday
No. 1 Clemson at South Carolina (Line: Clemson -17)
The Palmetto Bowl (Series: Clemson leads 66-42-4)
On paper, this shouldn't be close. Clemson is one of the most balanced, dominant teams in the game. Meanwhile, South Carolina's only win since Steve Spurrier left is over Vanderbilt. However, the Gamecocks' four losses sans Spurrier have all been by 10 points or less. They're a feisty bunch, but facing a Heisman hopeful QB and a team determined to not let anyone get in its way is a monumental task. It's a rivalry game. It's at South Carolina. This will be Shawn Elliott's last game as SC's head coach. Throw out the record books. Yada yada. Closer than the experts think. Clemson 40, South Carolina 24

Georgia at Georgia Tech (Line: Georgia -4)
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (Series; Georgia leads 64-40-5)
Another in-state rivalry game that on paper looks like a mismatch. But Georgia Tech's triple option offense evens the scales a bit. Mark Richt could very well be coaching for his job in this one. After the season the Dawgs have had, losing a second straight game to the Yellow Jackets might be the end of a pretty good run at UGA for Richt. Georgia 34, Georgia Tech 28

Louisville at Kentucky (Line: Louisville -4.5)
The Governor's Cup (Series: Kentucky leads 14-13)
These two Bluegrass State schools are more known for their battle on the hardwood, but the fierce rivalry extends to the gridiron. Louisville is currently riding a four-game winning streak in the series. The Cats won four in a row prior to that, and the Cards won four in a row before that. Which Louisville team will show up Saturday? And can Kentucky get to bowl eligibility under Mark Stoops? Louisville 24, Kentucky 14

No. 8 Ohio State at No. 10 Michigan (Line: Ohio State -1)
The Game (Series: Michigan leads 58-46-6)
Ohio State had its 23-game winning streak snapped last week - and then all hell broke loose in the Buckeyes locker room. Now, they head to the Big House. Yikes. Michigan has won four in a row to keep its Big Ten East Division hopes alive. The Wolverines are perhaps the most complete team Ohio State will face this season. And we saw what Michigan State did to them last week. I'll take the coach who's smashing Buckeye nuts on Bo Schembechler's grave. Michigan 20, Ohio State 17

Virginia Tech at Virginia (Line: Virginia Tech -3.5)
The Commonwealth Cup (Series: VT leads 54-37-5)
Virginia Tech has won 11 in a row in this series and looks to send Frank Beamer out with one more win over the Cavaliers. Beamer is 19-9 against UVA. The Hokies are favored, but Virginia played its best game a week ago in a win over Duke. Sometimes you just have to go with history and history tells us this game belongs to Beamer. Virginia Tech 21, Virginia 10

Penn State at No. 5 Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -11)
Battle for the Land Grant Trophy (Series: Tied 14-14-1)
My how the Big Ten world turned with one kick. Ohio State was the defending champs and headed toward another College Football Playoff. Then, Sparty happened. Michigan State has defeated Michigan and Ohio State on the road and led for exactly 0:00 of game time. Don't expect the Spartans to get tripped up. MSU is on its way to Indianapolis and Mark Dantonio can proclaim he has the best program in the Big Ten. Michigan State 31, Penn State 13

No. 14 North Carolina at NC State (Line: North Carolina -5.5)
Carolina-State Game (Series: North Carolina leads 65-33-6)
North Carolina isn't getting a lot of respect for myriad reasons. But the Heels have looked as good as anyone in the country and Gene Chizik has done a 180 with the defense. Look out. NC State is much better than its 7-4 record. Remember, too, the Wolfpack dropkicked UNC last year, 35-7. This one's in Raleigh and the Pack can spoil a great season for the baby blues. NC State 38, North Carolina 35

No. 2 Alabama at Auburn (Line: Alabama -14.5)
The Iron Bowl (Series: Alabama leads 43-35-1)
Two years ago was the "Kick 6." Auburn went on to play for a national title and it appeared the tide (pun intended) had turned in the SEC West. Then, Alabama dropped 55 points on the Tigers last year and now Auburn limps in with a 6-5 record. Derrick Henry is a beast and Alabama's defense has been great against some mediocre offenses. But the Tide, in my eyes, aren't as other-worldly as everyone proclaims. Alabama 33, Auburn 26

No. 22 UCLA at USC (Line: USC -3)
The Crosstown Rivalry (Series: USC leads 44-31-7)
Figure these two teams out. UCLA starts the year 4-0 and looks like it could be a factor. Then, the Bruins went 4-3 with losses to Arizona State at home and at Stanford and Washington State. USC, on the other hand, lost early to Stanford, then Washington, then Notre Dame before reeling off four straight wins including a stunner against Utah. The Trojans, though, were blown out by Oregon last week, so who knows with these two teams. It's at USC, but the Bruins have won three in a row and none have been close. UCLA 41, USC 28

No. 18 Ole Miss at No. 21 Mississippi State (Line: Ole Miss -1)
The Egg Bowl (Series: Ole Miss leads 62-43-6)
Aside from running into a brick wall against Alabama, Mississippi State has been on a roll on offense and Dak Prescott is at the center of it all. He's playing his final game in Starkville and is looking to atone for the upset that took place a season ago. Chad Kelly and Ole Miss picked up momentum with their win over LSU last week. The cowbells will be ringing loud in what could be another classic Egg Bowl. Mississippi State 43, Ole Miss 42

No. 13 Florida State at No. 12 Florida (Line: Florida State -2.5)
The Florida Cup (Florida leads 34-23-2)
FSU has won four of the last five in this series and goes up against an offensively-challenged Gator team in The Swamp. In two of its past three games, Florida needed a last-minute field goal to beat Vanderbilt, 9-7, and was taken to overtime by Florida Atlantic before prevailing 20-14. Dalvin Cook can up his Heisman candidacy with a solid game against the Gators' vaunted defense. Jim McElwain tried to light a fire under his team by calling them out for a lack of emotion. There will be plenty of that flowing in this one. Florida State 24, Florida 13

Texas A&M at LSU (Line: LSU -5.5)
(Series: LSU leads 30-20-3)
Could this be Les Miles' last game at Tiger Stadium? Who would've thought that before this season? Well, Miles has a way of getting the best out of his players when their backs are against the wall and questions are abound. Add in that the Aggies only wins since Oct. 17 are against South Carolina, Western Carolina and Vanderbilt, and it's easy to see Texas A&M is a fraud despite its 8-3 record. Leonard Fournette should have a big game. LSU 38, Texas A&M 20

No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 9 Stanford (Line: Stanford -4)
The Legends Trophy (Series: Notre Dame leads 19-10)
The game everyone has waited for to finally see whether Notre Dame is worth a darn or not. We know they barely lost to Clemson, but that's been about all the Irish can proclaim to this point. Stanford has been led by Heisman contender Christian McCaffrey, who looks the part of the best all-around football player. A win here and next week in the Pac-12 title game over UCLA or USC at the very least puts the Cardinal back in the conversation for a Playoff. They just need chaos to ensue ahead of them. Stanford 35, Notre Dame 28

When it comes to OU-OSU, expect, well, bedlam.
(Photo courtesy tvnooz.com)

No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 11 Oklahoma State (Line: Oklahoma -7)
Bedlam (Series: Oklahoma leads 84-18-7)
Four of the past five Bedlam games have produced some of the wackiest results. I guess that's why they call it Bedlam. The Sooners jumped into the Playoff Top 4 in this week's rankings and can solidify their spot with a third straight win over a ranked opponent (second on the road). OSU was exposed by Baylor last week and simply does not have a running game. The weather is expected to be cold and wet, possibly freezing rain/sleet/who knows what else. That bodes well for the Crimson and Cream machine of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 21